246 



FROM NISQUALXY TO COLUMBIA RIVER. 



About 5 P. M., we were overtaken and passed by our old 

 friend, the Squaw Chief, and her husband. She informed us 

 that they were going to pay a visit to a sister, who was residing 

 on the banks of the Chapel River. Her canoe was large and 

 handsomely painted, and was paddled by five slaves, two of 

 whom were women. The following night was a pleasant one, 

 and Mr. Eld and I availed ourselves of it to obtain observa- 

 tions for ascertaining our latitude and longitude. 



The next day (25th) we arrived at the point where the 

 Sachal and the Chickelees unite, and we encamped on the 

 banks of the latter stream. The country, as far as we could 

 see, appeared to be well adapted for cultivation, and we 

 observed for the first time since leaving Sachal Lake, some 

 large stones or rocks. 



About dusk we had a visit from some Chenooks, who had 

 encamped three or four miles further down the river. We 

 had attracted their attention, they said, by the smoke of our 

 fires, and at first supposed us to be some of their own people. 

 They were all young and rather good-looking, and much better 

 dressed than any Indians we had yet met on the route. 



At early dawn the following day, Mr. Eld, with sergeant 

 Stearns, Brooks, and the interpreter, Joe, set out to examine 

 the Chalap, a branch of the Chickelees. They were absent 

 two days and a part of a third, during which time I remained 

 with the rest of the party at the same encampment. The 

 weather continued pleasant, and Mr. Brackenridge made 

 several botanic excursions. He spoke favorably of the country, 

 and thought it well adapted to yield crops of corn and wheat. 

 In the course of the second day several Indian families visited 

 us, and we bought from them a quantity of smoked salmon and 

 some blackberries, which are found in great abundance in the 

 neighboring prairies.. These Indians behaved very properly, 



